DADDYDO-FUNNYS 
WISDOM JINGLES 




RUTH M9ENERY STUART 




Class TS ^jAQ- 
Book l3L1 




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DADDY DO'FUNNY'S 
WISDOM JINGLES 

BY 

RUTH McENERY STUART 
ILLUSTRATED BY G. H. CLEMENTS 




NEW YORK 

THE CENTURY CO. 

1913 



.J! 3 



Copyright, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, by 
The Century Co. 



Published^ October, igrj 



0-^ 



:'CI,A35 7 35 8 



To the Memory of those faithful brown 
slave- men of the plantations throughout the 
South, Daddy's contemporaries all, who during 
the war while their masters were away fight- 
ing in a cause opposed to their emancipation, 
brought their blankets and slept outside their 
mistresses' doors, thus keeping night'Watch 
over otherwise unprotected women and chil- 
dren — a faithful guardianship of which the 
annals of those troublous times record no 
instance of betrayal. 



FOREWORD 

In presenting a loyal and venerable ex-slave as an artless ex- 
ponent of freedom, freedom of conduct as well as of speech, the 
author of this trivial volume is perhaps not composing an individual 
so truly as individualizing a composite, if the expression will pass. 

The grizzled brown dispenser of homely admonitions is a figure 
not unfamiliar to those who have "moved in plantation circles" in 
the cotton and sugar country, and touched hands with the kindly 
dark survivors of the old regime. 

If the man. Daddy Do-funny, was unique as an individual, per- 
haps in the very fact of an individuality unembarrassed by the 
limitations of convention, of education and of precedent, he becomes 
in a sense typical of his people and of his time. 

Of course, a man is not called Do-funny for nothing, not even 
playfully and in the free vernacular of rusticity at its freest. 

One of a small community of superannuated pensioners upon 
the bounty of their former owners. Daddy was easily first citizen of 
Evergreen annex on Crepe Myrtle plantation, which is to say he 
was therein a personage of place and of privilege, coming and 
going at W\\l doing as he pleased, and as, with uplifted eye, he 
reverently boasted, "sponsible to nobody but Almighty Cord for 
manners and behavior." 

Even so late as this year of grace, a full half century after 
"emancipation," there are still to be found on many of the larger 
plantations in the far South a few such members of the order of the 
Rocking-chair, whose records of "good and honorable service" 
reach back through periods of bondage, even such kindergartners as 
septuagenarians in the privileged class, having clear title to nearly a 
quarter of a century of slave memories; not to mention the occasional 
centenarian with even his semi-occasional uncle or father poking 
around, toothless and white-plumed dignitaries, these, sometimes 



with leaders, being blind, but ever important in pride of association 
and memory. 

it is something even if one is bent double and may never again 
behold the light of day, to be able to reach back into a dim and 
forgotten past and to say, " 1 remember," especially when the 
memory recalls days of brilliance and of importance. 

But Daddy's place among the gentle Knights and Ladies of the 
Rocking-chair was far and away above such as these whose thoughts, 
alert though they were and loyal, travelled forever backward to the 
sweet but worn fields of memory where every pleasure is a recog'- 
nition and fashions do not change — a restful retreat for dreamers 
whose days of activity are done. 

But Daddy's mind worked forward and upward and although 
he did not know the alphabet excepting by rote, a common ante- 
bellum plantation accomplishment, and while professing high con- 
tempt for what he called "cold shelf-knowledge," his reputation for 
wisdom, wisdom as gleaned in observation and experience and 
"ripened by insight," was supreme, while his way of casually tossing 
it off in bits in playful epigram finally gave the word its plural form 
so that the expression "Do-Funny Wisdoms" came into familiar use. 

As an example of his rambling talk, much of which seems at 
least semivagarious on transcription, I recall one of his meandering 
dissertations on the value of experience as superior to observation. 

Several of the old people, his neighbors, had joined the listening 
children who surrounded him under the fig-tree, and perhaps he 
unconsciously deferred to them in his accent of their common pos- 
session in length of days, akhough he gave no sign of heed to any 
audience, when he said : 

" Dey's mighty few facts de same behind an' befo', not to say 
inside an' outside, and a man can go roun' an' roun' de blackberry 
bush an' not git nowhar. 'Spe'unce is a thorny bramble, an' yer 
'bleeged to go th'ough it, to draw blood, an', 1 tell yer, de blood is 
de life!" 

Akhough this tribute brought grunts of approval from the gray 
heads. Daddy was soon off at a tangent in playful fancy, hitting off 



a foible or "celebrating truth and justice" in one of the unconscious 
epigrams which it is sought herein to preserve, even when having 
occsisionally to hammer them into shape, for, while Daddy was 
almost unerring in rhyme, his rhythm, never at fault in delivery, was 
strictly a temperamental matter, not adequately renderable in cold print. 

But more than as philosopher, satirist or seer was the old man 
distinguished as a social factor on the place. Wherever his chair 
was set, there were the children gathered together, both black and 
white, eager listeners to his quaint pictorial recitals, even seeming to 
cherish the "\A/isdoms ' which fell from his tongue, as is not a 
common way with children, who seem instinctively to spurn the 
obviously didactic. 

But Daddy's moralizing, besides its saving grace of imagery, v^as 
generally sequential and convincing ; while his repartee, to use a 
word which seems almost a misfit in this rural setting, had a vv^ay of 
hitting the mark and striking fire, as when, in reply to the question 
from a forth-putting youngster on one occasion, " Where do you 
keep all your wisdoms. Daddy?" he snapped: 

'in my ole toof holes, dat's whar! Wisdoms don't ripen good 
tel yo' toofs is ready to drap out. Ev'rybody knows dat Gord 
A'mighty ain't nuver is set but one live Wisdom-toof in a man's 
mouf — an' dat comes late an' goes early." 

And then he added with a mischievous smile : 

"You-all smarty undergrowth, you ain't chawed life yit. You 
Jes 'speramintin' wid yo' milk-toofs. 

"Now's yo' havin' time, chillen, but to have an' to lose, dat's life! 

"Study wisdom now an' minch on it good wid yo yo'ng baby 
toofs an' hoi' fas' to it, so's it'll meller down ripe, time de caverns 
opens for it. 

"But look out ! 1 knows a lot o' ole vacant wisdom caves for rent 
behin' dis crepe myrtle hedge — so, 1 say, watch and pray! Pray for 
insight an' outsight ! An' even so, dey's some wisdoms so fine you 
can't see em tel you nearin' Home an' livin' on de far side o' life! ' 

Daddy lived alone in a tiny vine-clad cabin and there were 
times when he seemed frail and to need care, and the doctor said 



he was rheumatic. This, however, he denied, declining compan- 
ionship while he insisted that the sharp pains which occasionally 
twisted his brow were only growing pains which he was glad to 
endure as not having got his growth in his first childhood, he was 
" 'bleeged to wrastle wid it in de second," and, "of course," he 
added, " it comes harder when a man's bones is set." 

On days when his pains were bad, he would propel himself 
around in a roller^chair, which he called his chariot ; and although 
evidently suffering, he was never heard to complain. Once, when 
he seemed almost helpless, some one asked him how he had got into 
the chair, and was quickly silenced by his ready answer, "Gord 
lifted me in 1" 

Now, to Daddy clothes were clothes. In dress as in manners, 
he knew no obligation of precedent ; and as to fashion, the word 
made him chuckle. 

NA/hen his pains were unusually severe and it was difficult for 
him to get into his own garments, he did not hesitate to clothe him- 
self in one of the flowing wrappers which his old wife, Judy, long 
since dead, had worn. 

And thus it happened that while on some days an aged man 
might have been seen hobbling about, working among his plants, 
on others there appeared to be an old woman propelling herself 
around in a rolling chair ; and seeing her, his neighbors, with perhaps 
a chuckle, would remark, " 1 see Daddy Do-funny is laid up ag'in 1 " 

Another peculiar habit of the old man was the way in which 
he took his bath — a dangerous process, one would think, for a 
rheumatic, but harmless, no doubt, to growing pains. Seeing the 
rain coming, he would exclaim: '"Gord sendeth de rain! He's 
offerin' me a bath — just or unjust!" Then donning his "bath- 
slip," an old wool wrapper of Judy's and getting into his roller- 
chair, he would wheel out and sit calmly in the shower, often 
closing his eyes and lifting his face as he exclaimed: "Bless Gord 
for de sweet drops! Bless Gord for de rain! " and when he had 
had bath enough, he would either put up his umbrella or roll his 
chair indoors as he felt inclined. 



But perhaps we cannot get nearer the soul of the old man than 
by recalling a conversation which occurred during an invasion of 
the children, a conversation between him and his guests which 
is thrown into a sort of rhyme for easy memorizing, passing from 
one speaker to another without more than the natural pause for reply. 

Obviously, the children began it : 

" or Daddy Do-funny, 

How do you come on? " 
" Po'ly, thank Cord, honey. 
Poly dis morn. 

My of spine it's sort o' stiff. 

An' my arms dey 'fuze to lif, 

An' de miz'ry 's in my breas', 

An' 1 got some heart-distress. 

An' de growin pains dey lingers. 

In my knee-j'ints an' my fingers, 
But I'm well, praise Gord, dis mornin'.' 

" OY Daddy Do-funny, 
What cuyus talk I 
How is you well, when you 
Can't even walk ? " 

" Hush, you foolish chillen, hush I 
What's dat singin' in de brush? 
Ain't dat yonder blue de sky? 
Feel de cool breeze passin' by I 
Dis of painful back an' knee, 
Laws-a-mussy, dey ain't me! 
I'm well, praise Qord, dis morin ! " 

RUTH McENERY STUART. 




Daddy's Weather Prayer 

The Old Rooster 

The Butterfly . 

The Wren 

The Watermelon 

The Gourd 

Judge Owl 

The Mosquito 

Confession 

The Game' Cock 

The Epicure . 

The Mule 

The Grubworm 

Rain or Shine 

Little Green Tree' Toad 

Sparrows 

The Fly 

The Little Chicken ■ 



Page 

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4 
5 
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10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
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The Scare' Crow 

The YelloNA/ Rose 

The Ambitious Cow 

Tried by Fire 

Jack C Lantern 

The Flea 

Will o the Wisp 

The Mole 

The Runt 

The Monkey . 

The Aristocrat 

The Crawfish 

The Angleworm 

The Chimney' Swallow 

Catching Doodle- Bugs 

The Porcupine 

Ants 

The Parrot 

The Rattle- Snake 

The Persimmon 

in Harness 

The Canary • 

Answering Back 

Dat's De Way My Lady' 

The Mammy Alligator 

The New Rich 



Do 



The Wibbly Wabbly Calf 

The Turkey- Gobbler 

The Cauliflower • 

The Step' Mother 

The Frog 

The Rat 

The Mocking' Bird 

The Mushroom 

The Measuring Worm 

The Top- Knot Hen 

Too Familiar 

The 'Possum 

The Owl 
The Chameleon 
The Caterpillar 
Dr. Drake 
The Peacock 
The Alligator 
The Terrapin 
The Dandelion 
The Cud 
The Mirror . 
Goslings 
The Pet 

The Guinea' Hen 
The Moon . 



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72 

73 

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The Hen- Roost Man 

A Guilty Conscience 

The Bat 

Incubator Chickens 

The Firefly • 

The Thistle . 

The Gray Squirrel 

Look Out for Mister Bee 

The Rose 

The Locomotive • 

The Goat 

The Fig 

The Frizzled Chicken 

The Endless Song 

The Eel 

The Rain'Crow . 

The GiraflSe 

The Black Sheep 

The Prize' Winner 

The Dog 



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DADDY DO^FUNNY'S 
WISDOM JINGLES 




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Ef de hoa'se o\' rooster VA^ouldn't crow so loud 
He mought pass for young in de barn'yard crowd; 
But he strives so hard an' he steps so spry 
Dat de pullets all winks whilst he marches by. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



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THE WKEN 

She's a citizen-bird. Sis little brown Wren, 
She nests in de spring an' de fall again; 
"Race suicide" talk nuver fazes her, 
'Ca'ze she's good for 'er ten little wrens a year. 
An' she ain't by 'erself, my ladies, in dat- 
No, she ain't by 'erself in dat. 




THE WATERMELON 

Oh, Watermilion sho' is good to eat ! 
But de darkie rates it twice't mo' sweet, 
'Ca'ze it's ap' to b'long to de yether man. 
An' it's mighty hard to lif by sleight o' han'. 

An' it ain't by itself, made sweet like dat— 

No, it ain't by itself like dat. 




>"X/// 



THE GOURD 

De green gou'd on de sunny shed 
Was mighty proud of his pethy head. 
So he nuver pondered or studied or trained. 
An' now he's ol' an' rattle-brained. 

An' he ain't by 'isselF in dat, in dat — 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



THE MOSQUITO 

Wid so much Christian blood in 'is veins. 
You'd think Brer 'Skitty would take some pains 
To love 'is neighbor an' show good will. 
But he's p'izenin' an' back-bitin' still. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 





CONFESSION 

Dat whale wha' gulped Br'er Jonah down 
Was bleeged to swim closC't to de groun' 
Ontel he riz up an' confessed 
He'd swallered mo' 'n he could digest. 

But you ain't by yo'self, Br'er Whale, in dat- 

No, you ain't by yo'self in dat. 




THE GAME-COCK 

Dey's some things square an' some things round. 
An' little game cocks ain't sol' by de pound ; 
Dey's weighed by sand an' pluck an' grit 
An' de number o' dead dey leave in de pit. 

An' dey ain't by deyselves in rank like dat- 
No, dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 



12 




THE EPICURE 

Ef you keep yo' eyes on Br'er Carrion Crow, 
You'll wonder hussome he kin carry on so! 
He flies in high circles an' chooses meat 
Dat no honest workin'-man would eat. 

An' he ain't no new high-flyer in dat — 

No, he ain't by 'sself in dat. 



13 




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4/ 
w/ll 



THE MULE 

Ef you quiz Br'er Mule, you'll find dat he 
Gits mixed on de subjec' of 'is fam'ly tree; 
He'll brag about 'is mammy with a noble neigh, 
An' deny 'is own daddy wid a ginuine bray. 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



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i4'4M 




14 




THE GRUBWORM 

Br'er Grubworm wrops 'isself in twine 
An' swings in 'is shroud on a evergreen vine, 
Becaze it's mortal death dat brings 
His on'iest chance to git 'is wings. 

But you ain't by yo'self, Br'er Worm, in dat- 

Oh, you ain't by yo'self in dat. 



15 




RAIN OR SHINE? 

or Mingo, on 'is knees, he say: 

'Lord, teach dis nigger how to pray, 

Else riconcile two kinds o weather 

For craps an' rheumatiz together!" 

But you ain't by yo'self, old man, in dat- 
Oh, you ain't by yo'self in dat. 



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17 



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18 



THE FLY 

Wid dem suctious foots, seem lak Br'er Fly 
Mought draw down health ef he trod de sky ; 
But he's so onpartic'lar whar he roams 
Dat he's got 'isself screened out o' quality homes. 

An' he ain't by 'isself outcas' like dat — 

No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




19 



THE LITTLE CHICKEN 

Little yaller fluff' ball, one day out, 
Steps mighty high while he picks all about; 
Never sees de egg' shell layin* in 'is track. 
Much less the little piece stickin' on 'is back. 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




20 




THE SCAREXROW 

Br'er ScarC'Crow's built to suit 'is job 
Wid flappin' legs an' arms dat bob ; 
He ain't got brains for discontent 
So he works widout no argument. 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat- 
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



21 




THE YELLOW ROSE 

Dey's a sweet plantation, yaller-bufF rose 

Dat in my ricollection grows; 

In my ole dreams she seems to wait 

Whar she stood an' bloomed by de love- vine gate 

An I ain't by myself in dreams like dat — 

No, I ain't by myself in dat. 



22 








THE AMBITIOUS COW 

Sis' Twis''horn Brindle is a bothersome cow. 
She's boun' to raise a ruction an' she don't keer how; 
She craves to be de bell-cow an' lead off wid a clang. 
So it's all a man kin do to make 'er gallup wid de gang. 

An' she ain't by 'erself in dat, in dat — 

An' she ain't by 'erself in dat. 



23 




De sugar-cane stands so proud an' smart, 
You'd nuver suspicion it sweet at de heart. 
But to prove its sv^eets it yields its will 
To be tried by fire an' ground in de mill. 
An' it ain't by itself in dat, in dat — 
No, it ain't by itself in dat. 



24 




JACK^O'LANTERN 

Sence he los* *is brains to git 'is smile. 

Brer ]aci<'0'lantern grins lak a wilderin' chile 

NA^idout no secrets out or in ; 

An' de lighter in de head de broader 'is grin. 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



25 




THE FLEA 

Look out for Mr. Po'-trash Flea! 
Ef you let im come in, he'll make too free; 
He'll chase yo' dog till he makes im pant. 
An' he II take yo' skin for a restaurant. 

An" he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by isself in dat. 




26 




WILL O' THE WISP 

Ef de Wul o' de Wust would cuss an' swear 
An' take some shape, an' rip an' tear. 
It wouldn't sen' col' chills down a nigger's spine 
Like de changeable expression of a mystery shine. 

An' it ain't by its ghostly self in dat — 

No, it ain't by itself in dat. 



27 




THE MOLE 

De blind mole tunnels straight ahead. 

An' he gits whar he gwine wid a trustful tread 

But he nuver is yit got nowhar else. 

An' he'll nuver view de skies whar glory melts. 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




28 




THE RUNT 

You'll sometimes trace de loudes' grunt 

in de horg'lot down to de littles' runt, 

Lak as ef he'd 'nounce whilst he bolts 'is swil 

"A pompious horg is as big as 'is will." 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



29 




MONKEY 

De organ plays an' Br'er Monkey struts, 
An' he takes high pride in de capers he cuts 
While folks draps picayunes into 'is han 
For fallin' so short o' bein' a man. 

An' he ain't by 'isself, misled like dat— 
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



30 




THE ARISTOCRAT 

Dat three' name chicken wid de feathery legs 
Wha' 'merged f'om de ten dollar settin' of eggs. 
Is a lonesome bird an' I s'picion he frets 
'Ca'ze he can't outgrow dem pantalettes. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



31 



THE CRAWFISH 

Br'er Crawfish th'ows a racklass bluff. 

An' he sho do look like fightin' stuff; 

But turn 'im loose on a battie^groun'. 

An he'll bow 'isseif out, an' nuver turn roun' 
But he ain't by 'isseif in dat, in dat — 
But he ain't by 'isseif in dat. 




32 



THE ANGLEWORM 

" I could stand de hook," says de angleworm, 
"An' a lily-brook wouldn't make me squirm, 
But I can't help wrigglin' agin' my fate; 
It breaks me all up to be used for bait." 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




33 




THE CHIMNEY^SWALLOW 

\A/id 'is nest in de flue whar de suctions blow. 
Storms due above an' fire below, 
No wonder Br'er Swaller sags an' sways 
Like a pusson ableeged to dodge bofe ways. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



34 



CATCHING DOODLE^BUGS 

Little picaninnies, fishin' in de doodle-bug holes. 

Wid a " spit for luck, " an' straws for poles. 

Show pyore delight in de fisherman's aim 

All disp'opo'tioned to de game. 

An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat, in dat- 
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 




a» 



35 



THE PORCUPINE 

Sis' Porcupine, wid 'er bristles all set 

In a pompado' style, is waitin' yet. 

An' she can't understan', whilst she puckers 'er mug, 

De sca'city o' kisses an' de absent hug. 

But she ain't by 'er lonesome self in dat — 

No, she ain't by 'erself in dat. 







36 




Dem Ants is sho' got savin' ways 
An' even de Scripture 'lows 'em praise ; 
But dey hoa'ds for deyselves Pom day to day 
An' dey stings any man wha' gits in de way. 
An' dey ain't no new co'poration in dat 
No, dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 





37 




Sis' Tiri'Cage Polly wid de roamin' nose 

Dat roams f'om 'er eyes tel it p'ints to *er toes. 

She keeps up a ratlin' talkin' pace 

To turn off attention f'om de shape of 'er face. 
An* you ain't by yo'self. Sis' Polly, in dat — 
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat . 



38 




THE RATTLE^SNAKE 

Br'er Rattlc' snake rattles befo* he springs. 
But he warns too late to 'scape 'is stings ; 
His high'class manners don't count for much 
'Ca'ze dey grafted on to a sarpent's touch. 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



39 




THE PERSIMMON 

Is you little gals, growin' into women. 
Ever tasted a snappy young persimmin? 
It takes a hard frost to make it sweet. 
An' it's old an' swiveled 'fo' it's fit to eat! 

But it ain't by itself, sharp chillen, in dat- 

No, it ain't by itself in dat. 



40 



IN HARNESS 

Dat flee'bitten mule an' my bay mare 

In de hay'Wagon, sho is a mixtious pair : 

But dey's pulled so long th'ough wind an' weather 

Dat out in de field dey graze together. 

An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat, in dat — 
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 




41 




THE CANARY 

Dc little yaller cage^bird preems 'is wings 
An* he mounts 'is pyerch an' sings an' sings: 
He feels 'is cage, but I s'pec' he 'low 
To take what comes an' sing anyhow ! 

An' you ain't by yo'self, little bird, in dat — 
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat. 



42 



ANSWERING BACK 

Br'er Pole-cat's got a s'ciety smile 
An' he sho is dressed in scrumptious style. 
But he keeps 'is own hat off de quality rack 
By de scan' bus way he answers back. 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




43 



DATS DE WAY MY LADY'LL DO 

It ain't how many eyes you got, 

'Les' needles could see an' potatoes, too; 
An' " hookin' a' eye," as like as not, 

\A/ould be classed as a sin dat no lady'd do. 
But it's keepin' yo' eyes turned to'des de right. 
An' to'des de wrong jes' shettin' 'em tight — 
Lookin' out for ways to be polite — 
Dat's de way my lady'd do ! 

It ain't how many ears you got 

Dat makes you listen an' learn an' do ; 
Else a hill o' corn in a garden plot 

Would be 'way ahead o' me an' you ; 

But it's shettin' yo' ears to heartless speech. 
An' listenin' whilst de teachers teach. 
An' strivin' to practise mo' 'n to preach — 
Dat's de way my lady' 11 do ! 

It ain't how many tongues you got, 

'Les' shoes would talk an' wagons, too; 
An' all de bells would gabble a lot. 

An' tattle an' brag de long day th'ough ; 

But it's gyardin' yo' tongue Pom talk dat's wrong. 
An' passin' a helpful word along, 
An' maybe singin' a hopeful song — 
Dat's de way my lady'll do ! 



44 




45 




THE MAMMY ALLIGATOR 

Said de mammy alligator, wid a motherly grin : 

I nuver liked babies wid dey dimples tucked in, 

But our little pet, wid its horny hide. 

Like its mammy's an' its daddy's, is de fam'ly pride. 
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat, in dat — 
An* dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 



46 




THE NEW RICH 

Sis' Mush A. Pvoon sprung up over night 
An' to name whar she sprung f om ain't polite 
But she spreads erself wuss'n me or you. 
An wid on'y one foot to stan' on, too. 

An she ain't by er new-come self in dat— 

No, she ain't by erself in dat. 



47 



THE WIBBLY WABBLY CALF 

Cunnin' little donkey-baby — 

"Ye-haw! Ye-haw!" What a funny laugh 
Soun' jes like a creaky, cranky 

Seesaw — seesaw I 
W^asn't nothin' funny roun' dat 

We saw — we saw ! 
'Tel we glimpsed de stagger-gait dat 

He saw — he saw! 
Brindle strikin' swagger-gait when 

She saw — she saw — her wibbly wabbly calf! 




I '.-^ ^ 



48 



Den we j'ined wid Mister Donkey, 

"He-haw! He-haw!" How we-all did laugh! 
But we laughed at some'h'n' mo' dan 

He saw — he saw! 
Donl<ey couldn't see de ears dat 

We saw — we saw ! 
Rabbit lopin' down de road, we 

Three saw — three saw ! 
Wagged his ears an' called him daddy ! 

"Haw-haw! Haw-haw!" How dat — who dat laugh? 
An' de last to see de joke was wibbly wabbly calf! 




49 




THE TURKEY^GOBBLER 

or Gobbly struts aroun' de stable 
An' th'ows out hints o de rich man's table. 
An' he h'ists his tail an' spreads it wide. 
To display his cuyus graveyard pride. 

But he ain't by 'isself in pride like dat- 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



50 



THE CAULIFLOWER 

When de cabbage got ambitiom, in a uppish hour 
An' lost 'is head an' bu'st into flower 
Wid 'is brains outside, an addled, at dat — 
He sot 'isself up for a 'ristocrat. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




51 




THE STEP^MOTHEK 

Sis' Dominick follers her brood o' clucks 

To de bayou's edge, an' she clucks an' clucks; 

'Dis stepmammy job, oh me, oh me! 

Ain't all dat it's quacked up to be!" 

But she ain't by 'erself in dat, in dat — 
But she ain't by 'erself in dat. 



52 




THE FROG 

Old Br'er Frog ain't much to sing. 
But he clairs a log in a single spring. 
An' jedgin' 'im by his bigoty ways. 
He's clean forgot *is tadpole days ! 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat- 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



53 




THE KAT 

Br'er Kat in de corn^bin over^fed 
An' under'Worked, an' now he's dead; 
He craved to live lak a bloated chief. 
An' now he ain't nothin' but a ol' dead thief. 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



54 




55 




THE MUSHROOM 

Dey's many a musharoon good to de tas'e 
An' rich for de table, dat goes to was'e 
'Ca'ze folks don't dast to gether it in 
For de way it favors its dung- hill kin. 

An' it aint by itself condemned like dat- 

No, it ain't by itself in dat 



56 




THE MEASURING WOFkM 

\A/hen Brer Measurin 'Worm strikes out so brave, 
Makin' tend he kin measure you for yo grave, 
yV'\6 al! is stride an' all is strenth 
He can t measure mo'n is own little len th. 

An he ain t by isself made cheap like dat — 

No, he ain t by isself like dat. 



57 




THE TOP^KNOT HEN 

Hit's a proper pride in Sis' Top' knot's breast 
Dat makes *er step to march 'er crest; 
Yit jalousy follers 'er 'roun' de shed 
On de count o' dat innercent tufted head. 

An' she ain't by 'er ielf pursued lak dat — 
No, she ain't by 'erself in dat. 



58 



. TOO FAMILIAR 

De cantelope gits mighty bilious 
F'om runnin' wid punkins too familias. 
So it's banished out for its sociable sin 
Along wid its yaller kitchen kin. 

An* it ain't by itself in dat, in dat- 
An' it ain't by itself in dat. 




m^y'*"yp^^ ^ f/^, 



59 



THE 'POSSUM 

Br'er 'Possum makes pertend he's dead 
NA/^hilst shots goes whizzin' over 'is head. 
But time de hounds is out o sight, 
He's up an' "hongry for a fight!" 

An' he ain't by 'isself in a bluff like dat- 
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




60 



THE OWL 

When de big owl calls out "Who — ooo — ooo — !!!!!" 

In de dark 6 de moon, like night'Owls do, 

De chillen, a^beggin' to play out late. 

Come tumblin' back into Daddy's gate. 

An' dey ain't by dey selves in dat, in dat — 
No, dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 




61 



THE CHAMELEON 

De camelia' lizard is a turn' coat man, 

An' he borries his colors where dey's "room to stan'"; 

He mought keep solid as a county candidate. 

But you couldn't sca'cely find 'im on a map o' de State. 

But he ain't by 'isself lost out, like dat — 

No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




62 



THE CATERPILLAR 

Whilst she eats de groun' Pom onder 'er feet, 
Sis* Caterpillar's weavin' 'er windin'' sheet ; 
Bvf 'er red eyes shine an' 'er grasS'green'hair, 
An' 'er short life bright, so she don't care. 

An' she ain't by 'erself in dat, in dat — 

An' she ain't by 'erself in dat. 




63 



DR. DRAKE 

Ole Dr. Drake wid 'is college waddle 

An' Latin inscriptioms on 'is noddle. 

Would part wid 'is gait an' 'is shimmerin' back 

To perscribe a crowin' -powder an' nuver say " Quack I 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




m 



h 




64 



THE PEACOCK 

Br'er Peacock sho is a 'ristocrat, 
\A/id mighty fine clo'es, an' vain at dat ; 
He'll answer yo' glance wid col' surprise 
An' look you over v^id a thousan' eyes ! 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat- 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




^^^''^/ 



/i^' 



65 




THE ALLIGATOK 

Br'er Alligator kin grin a mile. 
But dey ain't no inducemint in his smile; 
NA/hilst he ain't no race' horse, yit dey say 
A little alligator goes a mighty long way. 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat- 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



66: 




THE TERRAPIN 

Br'er Terrapin draws in 'is head so knowin'. 
You can't tell whether he's comin' or goin'. 
But his mind ain't mixed — he's layin' low 
Tel he sees which way he's obleeged to go. 
An' he ain't no new politician in dat— 
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



67 




THE DANDELION 

De dandelion flower blooms out so young 
Wid a look in its face like a sassy tongue. 
Den it grows iight'headed wid self'Conceit 
Wid a flighty ole age, for full defeat. 

An' it ain't by itself pert chillen, in dat- 

No, it ain't by itself in dat. 



68 




THE CUD 

Life's give an' take," Sis' Cow, she laugh. 
So i gives my milk an' dey takes my calf." 
An' when contentment's hard to fin'. 
She chaws 'er cud to ease 'er min'. 

And you ain't by yo'self, Sis' Cow, in dat- 
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat. 



69 



THE MIRROK 

Br'er Donkey, drinkin' at de brook. 

Surveys hisself wid offish look, 

An' 'low ; " You Jackass makes too free ! 

Huccome you dast to drink wid me ! " 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat- 
Oh, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




70 



GOSLINGS 

De purty yaller goslin's say: 

"Oh, what— oh, v^/hat's de use! 
When Mama say, ' Come, walk dis way 
An' ac' jes like a goose ! ' 

Oh, what's de use — oh, what's de use? 

I's boun' to grow a noddle. 
Like every goosey, goosey, goose, 
An' waddle, waddle, waddle! 

"But Mama say: 'Don't talk dat way I 

Come, waddle like a mild goose, 
F'om side to side, wid proper pride — 
Not like a woodsy wild goose! 
Dey's plenty use — dey's plenty use! 

Come, git yo' education ! 
See how to waddle an' tote yo' noddle 
Accordin' to yo' station!'" 




71 



THE PET 

De little white chicken dat's petted too much 
Gits stunted in growth Pom de sp'ilin' touch. 
An' she'll nuver make a hen so brave an' good 
As ef she went a'pickin', an' worked wid de brood. 

An' she ain't by 'erself in dat, in dat — 

No, she ain't by 'erself in dat. 




72 




THE GUINEA^HEN 

Sis' Guinea, in proud week-day clo'es 
Forgits how she was hatched outdo' s ; 
Wid 'er red boot chicks, she cuts a dash. 
An' calls er neighbors " Po trash! Po trash! 
But she ain't by 'erself in dat — 
But she ain't by 'erself in dat. 



'The guinea-fowl sirays away from home and makes her nest in the fields. The newly hatched guinea- 
chicks are beautiful, dainty things, with coral-colored feet which look very fine. The guinea's cry, loud and 
harsh, sounds like "Potterack I " or "Poor trash I " 



73 




THE MOON 

Dey say Sis' Moon daresn't shine at night 
Cep'n by Marse Sun's allowance of light. 
An' whilst he's away whar de yether moons are 
She don't even dast to wink at a star. 

An' she ain't de onies' wife like dat — 
No, she ain't. by 'erself in dat. 



74 





THE HEN^ROOST MAN 

Hen'Poost Man he'll preach about Pau 
James an' John, an' Herod, an' all, 

nuver a word about Peter, oh, no! 

s afeard he'll hear dat rooster crow. 
An' he ain't by 'isseif in dat, in dat- 
An' he ain't by 'isseif in dat. 



75 



A GUILTY CONSCIENCE 

Dat little yaller pup 's got so many lickin's 
For pesterin' all de ducks an' chickens, 
Dat whenever he hears any barn' yard strife. 
He looks over his shoulder an' runs for 's life. 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

No, he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




76 





i 



Br'er Bat flaps out in de gloomin' dark. 
An' even ef he's boun' for a harmless lark. 
He favors de devil an' he keeps sech hours 
Dat he seems in cahoot wid de evil powers. 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




77 




INCUBATOR CHICKENS 

Dem inkybator chickens dat's hatched by de clock, 
NA/id a lamp for love, is lonesome stock; 
Dey feeds in droves, but dey envies de others 
Dat scratches for grubs wid any ol' mothers. 

An' dey ain't by deyselves, po' orphans, in dat — 

No, dey ain't by deyselves in dat. 



78 




THE FIREFLY 

Br'er Lightnin'-bug is a gay young spark. 
But he nuver is yit put out de dark; 
He shines for 'isself in 'is zigzag flight. 
An* he's middlin' sho he's de sou'ce of light. 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



79 



THE THISTLE 

De thistle'Sta'.k sends up a noble bloom 

\A/id de shape of a flower an' de thought of a plume. 

But its prickle'Y ways turn friendship down; 

So it stands all alone, in its velvet gown. 

An' it ain't by its lonesome self in dat — 

No, it ain't by itself in dat. 




rt- /' 



ry^ 



^'^/^#^'-^'-.,. 



» • 



80 




THE GRAY SQUIRREL 

De gray squir'l lives a nachel life, 
Wid Friends an' foes an' chillen an* wife ; 
But whenever he gits his picture took. 
He snatches dat nut, to appear in de book. 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



81 



LOOK OUT FOR MISTER BEE 

Look out for Mister Bee in de punkin' flower ! 

Plenty gallinippers in de grass ! 
Mighty close tie 'twix' wings an' stings 
Better let de honey'bee pass I 
Z— Z-Z,Z,Z! 
Better let de honey'bee pass ! 

\A/hite-face bumblebee — white folks' ways — 

Never give a sassy answer back ! 
But don't you trus' de black-face, no matter what 
he says ! 
Give de nigger bumblebee de track! 
Z— Z— Z,Z,Z! 
Give de nigger bumblebee de track ! ' 

' ' ' ^ •— I r^ 




'The white-faced bee does not sting. 



82 




83 




THE LOCOMOTIVE 

Dey say Sis' Ingine's fiercest scream 
Don't mean nothin' but lettin' off steam. 
But wid so much wrackage behin' 'er back. 
Seem like she say : " Git out o my track ! " 

An' she ain't by 'erself, old Mis, in dat- 
No, she ain't by 'erself in dat. 



84 



THE GOAT 

No matter how much she strive to 'spire, 
Sis' Nannie Goat's measured ginst some'h'n' higher; 
"First cousin to a sheep" an' "de po' man's cow," 
Is hoi' 'down luck, come when, come how. 

An' she ain't by 'erself helt down like dat — 

No, she ain't by 'erself in dat. 




85 




De fig dat's "sweet enough to eat" 
Is sweet enough, but not too sweet; 
But de honey-lip fig in de blazin' light 
Is a battle-ground whar de varmints fight. 
An' it ain't by itself in dat, in dat — 
An* it ain't by itself in dat. 




86 



// 




\(l 



1^1 v; ' ^# v/ 






THE FRIZZLED CHICKEN 

Dat frizzledy chicken, he steps so spry. 
An' he totes 'is head so pompious high, 
Like as ef he tries, wharever he goes. 
To rise above dem rough'dried does. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 



87 



THE ENDLESS SONG 

Oh, I used to sing a song, 
An' dey said it was too long. 
So I cut it ofF de en' 
To accommodate a frien' 

Nex' do', nex' do'- 
To accommodate a frien' nex' do'. 



But it made de matter wuss 
Dan it had been at de fus, 
'Ca'ze de en' was gone, an' den 
Go'se it didn't have no en' 

Any mo', any mo'- 
Oh, it didn't have no en' any mo' ! 

So, to save my frien' from sinnin', 
I cut off de song's beginnin' ; 
Still he cusses right along 
Whilst I sings about my song 

jes so, jes so — 
NAi^hilst I sings about my song jes so. 

How to please 'im is my riddle. 
So I'll fall back on my fiddle ; 
For I'd Stan' myself on en' 
To accommodate a frien' 

Nex' do', nex' do'— 
To accommodate a frien' nex' do'. 



88 




89 



Br'er Eel got a mighty jewbious name. 

But maybe he ain't so much to blame; 

He couldn't squirm out ef he nuver ventured in. 

An' he resks his all when he resks his skin. 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




90 




THE RAINXROW 

Br'er Rain^crow sho kin prophesy, 
Caze he reads his wisdom Pom de page on high; 
His mind ain't clogged wid secon'-hand facts, 
But de moon an' de skies is his almanacs. 

An' he ain't by isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by isself in dat. 



91 




THE GIRAFFE 

Br'er Gy'fafFe don't make no pertense 

O' not seein' over 'is neighbor's fence, 

An' ef he'd listen close' t, I 'spec' 

He'd hear somebody say : " Rubber'neck III' 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 
But he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




92 




r 




THE BLACK SHEEP 

De black sheep says, "Oh, what's de use 
To shun de mire an' de muddy sluice ? 
For whether I walks for praise or blame, 
Dey'll call me ' black sheep,' jes de same ! " 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat- 
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




''/fV',, ,, 



93 



THE PRIZE^WINNEK 

Dat Berkshire horg in de blue ribbon pen 
Come home wid de heavy-weight prize again ; 
He looks mighty pompious in 'is stall, 
But he's on'y a fat horg, after all. 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat — 

An' he ain't by 'isself in dat. 




94 




THE DOG 

I can't talk dog an' he can't talk man, 
Yit Rover an' me, we onderstan' ; 
I wag my tongue an' he wags 'is tail. 
An' Love explains whar Grammars fail. 

An' we ain't de oniest chums like dat- 
No, we ain't by ourselves in dat. 



95 



